Sluice Issue #3

Sluice  | by Arthur H. Manners

Issue #3

Things to share this week

1. Books: Into the Woods by John Yorke. I read this about two years ago, at a time when my blood was 90% stress hormones. It's become one of my staple reference texts. The book is primarily about screenplay writing, but it's also a general guide to storytelling. There's a lot of wisdom in here, presented through anecdotes and discussion rather than your general how-to book full of dictates from on high. I recommend this one to everyone, not just writers; it's an interesting peek into how our minds crave and process stories.2. Electronics: Bose QuietComfort II noise-cancelling headphones. I'm not one for frivolous expenses, but these have proven essential to me for focus — probably the best purchase I've ever made for my mental health. I'm sensitive to environmental noise and it's been a problem for a long time. These are miracle cures. The noise cancelling is outstanding. Most of the time I don't listen to anything on them, the noise-cancelling cushion is perfect for blocking out the world. I especially like using them on public transport.3. TV/Film: Marvel's Loki on Disney+. If you're not into the MCU, I recommend this anyway. Some stellar acting from a diverse cast, and a story that beats many of the films with $100m+ budgets. If you are into the MCU and you skipped Loki — well, first of all, shame on you, but also you're missing some essential set-up to the next couple of films in Phase 4. Congrats, Team Loki, you aced it. (Also greenlit for Season 2, can't wait!)4. Apps: CopyClip. I discovered this way too late. Embarassingly late. It's a simple but powerful tool: a little app that sits in your toolbar and saves a history of your copy-paste clipboard. So next time you overwrite something important by hitting Ctrl+C, you can retreieve it from CopyClip.  

5. Poetry: Do Not Be Afraid of No by Gwendolyn Brooks. I'll finish today's issue with a section from one of Brooks' pieces in her collection Selected Poems. I'll just quote a snippet, so it'll be out of context, but the language play blew my hair back and I wanted to share. It reads: 

'And like a candle fixedAgainst dismay and countershine of mixedWild moon and sun. And likeA flying furniture, or bird with lattice wing; or gaunt thing,    a-stammer down a nightmare neon people with condor,    hawk and shrike.'

Read those last two lines again. Feel the inexorable flow? It's like being dragged by oxen.

Until next time, be good.

Best regards,

Art

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